A Season-long Farm Poultry School (FPS) on Halal Free Range Chicken Production was launched on May 11, 2018 at Balay Sa Hardin, Luinab, Iligan City. The activity was attended by 62 participants who are mostly from Baloi, Lanao del Norte and Marawi City. The training is part of the commitment made by ATI-RTC X to help the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) due to the Marawi seige. This is also in answer to the requests of the Marawi Bakwit Association (MBA) and Ranao Inc. to help capacitate the IDPs for them to get back at their feet.

Halal free range chicken is a promising enterprise not only for Muslims but Christians as well. The growing demand of free-range chicken made ATI and the Officers of MBA and Ranao Inc. to decide on the training. After the training, the graduates will be given a starter kit of free-range chicken for them to apply what they have learned.

The training participants will meet weekly for 16 weeks. The FPS, a variation of the Farmer Field School is one of the most effective extension modality of ATI. It is usually conducted in a farm that practices the commodity the training covers. Balay Sa Hardin, owned by Mr. And Mrs. Arthur Fernando, is a 3,000 sq.m garden in the heart of Iligan City, is a known producer of free-range chicken as well as herbs and other vegetables.

The Opening Program was attended by staff from the City Agriculture Office led by Ms. Mary Ann Beley and Ms. Juliet Garcia; members of the MBA led by Mr. Nap Balt, Mr. Abdari Liningding, the Kapatid Mentor Me Program (KAMMP) Project Director; Dr. Jane Tranquilan, a Halal specialist of MSU Marawi City. Balay Sa Hardin was represented by its owners, Mr. Arthur Fernando and Ms. Gloria Fernando. On the otherhand, ATI-RTC X was represented by Ms. Noemi Beth Macario, ISS Chief and Office Caretaker; Ms. Teodosia Jaraba, CDMS Chief and Ms. Aleli Paulican, Livestock Focal Person and Project Officer.